Lit

The answer to “Lit” in the New York Times crossword is AFIRE — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on February 22, 2026, a Sunday puzzle, at 100-Down, and it has also run on 1 earlier date with the same answer. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Lit” answer

AFIRE (5 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is AFIRE.

Why the answer is AFIRE

AFIRE is the 5-letter solution that fits "Lit" in the NYT Crossword crossword on February 22, 2026 (100-Down). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

What does AFIRE mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of AFIRE is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

When else has “Lit” appeared?

New York Times reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

• February 22, 2026 (most recent) → AFIRE
• May 16, 2025 → AFIRE

Frequently asked questions